CompilerFlags

CompilerFlags are options supplied to a compiler during the translation of source code into object or executable files. They influence how the code is parsed, optimized, diagnosed, and generated, and in some cases can affect linking behavior. Flags can be passed on the command line or defined in build systems and environment variables; common variables include CFLAGS for C, CXXFLAGS for C++, and CPPFLAGS for preprocessor settings.

Common categories of flags include: optimization levels such as -O0, -O1, -O2, -O3 and -Os; debugging aids like -g; warnings and error handling with -Wall, -Wextra, and -Werror; language standards and features such as -std=c11 or -std=c++17; preprocessor controls such as -DNAME=value and -I include-paths; code generation and architecture selectors like -fPIC, -march=native, and -m64; and linking controls such as -static, -shared, along with -L library-path and -l lib.

Notes on usage: flags are compiler-specific, and while many flags are shared across GCC and Clang, others are unique to a particular toolchain. Incorrect or conflicting flags can cause compilation failures or change runtime behavior. Flags are typically composed and propagated through build systems such as Make, CMake, Meson, or Bazel, enabling consistent configuration across platforms.

Example: gcc -O2 -g -Wall -std=c11 -I./include -L./lib -lm -o myprog main.c